§Virgin Islands as a frontier between the Taínos of Puerto Rico and the Caribs of the Lesser Antilles §1493-1688 §St. Croix first to be discovered by columbus’ fleet, and only one that was inhabited §Well-cultivated in 1493 and grouped with dominica and Guadeloupe §Frequent raids launched from it against the Taínos of Puerto Rico §Taíno captives were a considerable portion of the Cruzan population §Women & boys held in bondage §Boys casatrated and used in domestic and menial chores until fattened for slaughter §Exocannibalism was reason for carib raids §Only ate adult males §Racial groups couldn’t be mixed, b/c only carib children weren’t eaten §Caribs are mortal enemies of Taínos §But w/out cooperation, couldn’t have had trees for canoes only in Puerto Rico §St. Croix doesn’t have forests like Puerto Rico §Was not ambushed by Taínos to Carib logging parties §Suggests regulated warfare, possibly of ritual nature, not total conflict between the two §Juan Ponce de Leon took Spanish conquest of Puerto Rico 1509 §Detained Carib loggers, Taínos complained that Caribs raided woods often §He built army to patrol coasts and keep them out §Took Caribs back to St. Croix but took the Taíno captives back to Puerto Rico §Adventurer Diego de Nicuesa raided St. Croix for slaves 3 months later, taking 150 Caribs and scandalizing Cruzans into rebellion §Spain lost St. Croix §Taíno revolts kept Spaniards busy, and Caribs helped the Taínos §1511 Great Taíno uprising §To reverse the Spanish conquest before it reached their islands §Virgins were bases for rebellions to be staged and contingents to assemble §Taíno institution of name-exchange may be one of the things that facilitated the confederation of St. Croix and Puerto Rico §Peace or cooperation became possible §Caribs secured trade with the Lokono of the mainland during middle 17th century §What led to alliance of Taínos and Caribs against Spaniards is unkown §Possibly exchange of hostages? §Cruzan Caribs are small §Over 20 villages, with at least 60 inhabitants each = 1200-5000 people, §Estimated to be 3275 people at a density of 40 individuals per square mile §When Spanish ships arrived in 1511 with weapons, Caribs fled §Virgin Islands took in a large number of refugees from Puerto Rico §Fought together against the Spanish empire §Common resort & cooperaton §For Taínos: Rank & station were heredity, war only for specific objectives, no allowance for individual heroism §For Caribs: war as instrument of social selection and ranking §Chiefs were military leaders §State of warfare needed for social cohesion & structure §Better fighters individually, less effective collectively §Caribs were junior allies subordinate to Taínos §Defeated in 1514, ant plague 1518, smallpox 1519 §No settled areas where people lived, death toll high §St. Croix inhabited sporadically through 1587, §Settlements near Puerto Rico were at mercy of Spaniards §Colonized briefly by French 1621 §Dutch colonization on St. Croix 1642-1645 §St. Thomas Dutch Colony founded 1657-1666 included slaves §Tortola – Dutch colony 1648-1672 may have had Carib population §Most St. Thomian Caribs moved to St. John to avoid Danish colonists after 1672 §Don’t know what happened to them, only 4 Caribs there in 1688 §Virgin Islands Roles as a Frontier Area: §1) were an embattled frontier between Taínos and Caribs §2) after 1509 common frontier for Caribs and Taínos to pool resources to save Puerto Rico from Spaniards and protect the Carib islands §Defeat of last revolt in 1514, onset of diseases 1519 §3) final role as frontier area for native Americans used by Taíno refugees and Caribs against Spanish Puerto Rico, no longer occupied by large number of Indians §Colonization of Lesser Antilles by European powers ended role of Virgin Islands in history of aboriginal America §Virgins were severed outlier with a few inhabitants who escaped, but those left probably died in slavery
§ 1493-1688
§ St. Croix first to be discovered by columbus’ fleet, and only one that was inhabited
§ Well-cultivated in 1493 and grouped with dominica and Guadeloupe
§ Frequent raids launched from it against the Taínos of Puerto Rico
§ Taíno captives were a considerable portion of the Cruzan population
§ Women & boys held in bondage
§ Boys casatrated and used in domestic and menial chores until fattened for slaughter
§ Exocannibalism was reason for carib raids
§ Only ate adult males
§ Racial groups couldn’t be mixed, b/c only carib children weren’t eaten
§ Caribs are mortal enemies of Taínos
§ But w/out cooperation, couldn’t have had trees for canoes only in Puerto Rico
§ St. Croix doesn’t have forests like Puerto Rico
§ Was not ambushed by Taínos to Carib logging parties
§ Suggests regulated warfare, possibly of ritual nature, not total conflict between the two
§ Juan Ponce de Leon took Spanish conquest of Puerto Rico 1509
§ Detained Carib loggers, Taínos complained that Caribs raided woods often
§ He built army to patrol coasts and keep them out
§ Took Caribs back to St. Croix but took the Taíno captives back to Puerto Rico
§ Adventurer Diego de Nicuesa raided St. Croix for slaves 3 months later, taking 150 Caribs and scandalizing Cruzans into rebellion
§ Spain lost St. Croix
§ Taíno revolts kept Spaniards busy, and Caribs helped the Taínos
§ 1511 Great Taíno uprising
§ To reverse the Spanish conquest before it reached their islands
§ Virgins were bases for rebellions to be staged and contingents to assemble
§ Taíno institution of name-exchange may be one of the things that facilitated the confederation of St. Croix and Puerto Rico
§ Peace or cooperation became possible
§ Caribs secured trade with the Lokono of the mainland during middle 17th century
§ What led to alliance of Taínos and Caribs against Spaniards is unkown
§ Possibly exchange of hostages?
§ Cruzan Caribs are small
§ Over 20 villages, with at least 60 inhabitants each = 1200-5000 people,
§ Estimated to be 3275 people at a density of 40 individuals per square mile
§ When Spanish ships arrived in 1511 with weapons, Caribs fled
§ Virgin Islands took in a large number of refugees from Puerto Rico
§ Fought together against the Spanish empire
§ Common resort & cooperaton
§ For Taínos: Rank & station were heredity, war only for specific objectives, no allowance for individual heroism
§ For Caribs: war as instrument of social selection and ranking
§ Chiefs were military leaders
§ State of warfare needed for social cohesion & structure
§ Better fighters individually, less effective collectively
§ Caribs were junior allies subordinate to Taínos
§ Defeated in 1514, ant plague 1518, smallpox 1519
§ No settled areas where people lived, death toll high
§ St. Croix inhabited sporadically through 1587,
§ Settlements near Puerto Rico were at mercy of Spaniards
§ Colonized briefly by French 1621
§ Dutch colonization on St. Croix 1642-1645
§ St. Thomas Dutch Colony founded 1657-1666 included slaves
§ Tortola – Dutch colony 1648-1672 may have had Carib population
§ Most St. Thomian Caribs moved to St. John to avoid Danish colonists after 1672
§ Don’t know what happened to them, only 4 Caribs there in 1688
§ Virgin Islands Roles as a Frontier Area:
§ 1) were an embattled frontier between Taínos and Caribs
§ 2) after 1509 common frontier for Caribs and Taínos to pool resources to save Puerto Rico from Spaniards and protect the Carib islands
§ Defeat of last revolt in 1514, onset of diseases 1519
§ 3) final role as frontier area for native Americans used by Taíno refugees and Caribs against Spanish Puerto Rico, no longer occupied by large number of Indians
§ Colonization of Lesser Antilles by European powers ended role of Virgin Islands in history of aboriginal America
§ Virgins were severed outlier with a few inhabitants who escaped, but those left probably died in slavery